Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-07-22
Roberts and Reform.
BY PROF. LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. M.

" Is Ollcn dtllu luc nOlSy OCClu-
nations Of contending partisans, when Grim
ination is answered with recrimination and
charge is met by countercharge, for the pa.
triotic citizen, who has no selfish ends 10
serve and who desires only the well-being
of his country, TO discover the truth. Just
at this time the cry Of reform is ringing over
the fruitful fields and echoing in the noun
tain gorges of our native State. Is it the
alarm of the faithful Waterman on the wall
Isit only the wall Of the disappointed poll
ticianY The continuous evolution and the
highest elaboration of social Institutions are
possible only when the whole organism OF
the body polite is furnished with the con-
ditions Of healthy growth Reversion must
be checked by reform.
AS,
sin the worlds broad field of battle"
they sweep onward in their resistless career,
capturing position after position from the
fees Of progress, the forces of civilization
must ever and anon halt for moment to
reform their lines before making new and
more glorious attack.
But the word reform which is thus the
symbol Of victory won and pledge Of VIC
tory TO come may sometimes in politics
be the moan for an office lost and plea
for an office desired. 1t is not, then, TO be
wondered at that the people often seem to
turn deaf ear to the shout for reformation.
But after careful examination of the ques-
ton, it has appeared to us that, in the pres
ent instance, it is no false alarm that has
broken the public peace and startled the
public conscience.
Men of undeubted integrity and of tried
ability, whose life, public and private, is spot
less, declare that the most sacred rights OF
Mo rui nd riti1anc rim fnr xuhfoh p,r
fathers freely gave their treasure and proudly
shed their blood. rights by whose possession
we are alone entitled to call ourselvesfreemen,
rights which are the pillars Of the peoples
government and which, If we are true Amer
leans, we hold dearer than the breath Of
life, are being ruthlessly violated by set of
unprincipled politicians, leagued with the
criminals, thugs and desperadoes Of our chief
commercial city, who-ah there's shame Of
it-in the stored namO and beneath the be-
loved banner of the Democratic party have
committed deeds Of dishonor which, if not
rebuked and repudiated, will brand that
party with infamy, and cover our state with
disgrace.
The answers made to these grave charges
have been feeble enough. Some consider the
matter disposed Of when they have said that
Mr.. Cowen, who has thrown the statements
into the most effective form, is the attorney
of the b. & o. r. r., and that his only aim
is 10 advance the Interests of the corpora
ton whose servant he is Miserable sophis-
try What has that to with the case, The
question is, not, who is it that makes these
chargesg nor, why does he make them
but, are the charges trueY If they are true,
then there is something as rotten in the De-
mocratic party as there ever was in the
kingdom of Denmark.
Other gentlemen seem to think that be-
cause for sooth these crimes have been com
mitted by men who call themselves Demo.
Gratis the mantle of public charity should
be thrown over their guilty heads.
What Are these two codes of ethics
What! Do the laws of the living God
vary with different political partiesg What?
Is not Democratic rascal rs bad as a Re
publican rascal? Surely things have come
to pretty pass. Hold Sheriff, don't you
dare to spring the trap to hang that muir
derer; he, sir, is Jacksonian Democrat;
he has voted the straight ticket for twenty
| years jailer, loose that thief; he is no fit
inmate for this place; he believes in tariff
for revenue only Policeman, let that gen
tleman go, what right have you, sir, to lay
your hands upon a man who was rocked in
Democratic cradle? Absurd is it Then
/ dTt CilticS uSdluSb tut llOttllts Vi buC RcOplt
less heinous than crimes against the indi-
vidual.
Another defense is that such men and
such methods are necessary TO the continued
ascendancy Of the Democratic party. What
does that mean? II means that the people
| do not want our party to be in power, and
that hence We must steal from them what
they refuse to give US. Shame on the man
who would champion such policy OF dis
honor for that party which claims to be now,
as in the past, 1t ever and always has been
the party Of the people The peoples party
TO stay in power by betraying the peoples
trust and sitting the peoples voice Shame !
SI.amei Shame! Whenever, If ever, God
grant II may never, the Democratic party
shall deliberately as a party come to EN-.
| poy such foul means as these to prolong its
supremacy, may II be driven in ignominy
aud dismay from every citadel of its power
for 1t will then have forgotten its high be-
hest and proved false to its sky.b prn-
ciples of Liberty and Justice and Truth.
The crying need of reform can be seen
from the following facts: First-At the pr.
mary elections in Baltimore city candidates
are chosen by tho criminal classes using
criminal means Second-In the general
city elections the will of the majority is sub
verted by various tricks, devices aud crimes.
Third-The men thus helped into Office
have repeatedly used the public patronage
to pay the private debts OF gratitude 10 the
| villains who did this criminal work.
The proof Of these charges is TO be found
In the records Of the court of law and in the
current history OF politics. What honest
man can say that such abuses ought not to
b. abatedp
The next question is, what shall we do 7
The answer is easy. Let as haze reform
,oithin the party No alliance with Repub
leans, as such, is needed or desired. Let a
great party punish its own scoundrels. Sc
lect for the Legislature men who are com.
mitted TO reform--who will vote for care
fully prepared law which shall be perfect
safeguard 10 that Palladium OF American
liberty. the ballot box. Then give us an hon
est, able. true-hearted, clean handed, clear.
headed man for Governor Such a man
would appoint honest election officers and
protect and defend the laws. And who is
the man for the place? His name is Chas
Il. Roberts
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